[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO A'JA WILSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2018

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an outstanding 
young lady and great South Carolinian, Ms. A'ja Wilson. Ms. Wilson is a 
student at the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia, South 
Carolina. USC's athletic teams are nicknamed the ``Fighting 
Gamecocks,'' and A'ja is a member of the Gamecock's women basketball 
team.
  During her tenure at USC, A'ja played in 138 games, averaged 17.3 
points per game, had 8.7 rebounds and blocked 2.6 shots per game. In 
2017, Ms. Wilson led the Gamecocks to their first ever NCAA Women's 
Basketball Championship and was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding 
Player.
  This year, A'ja was named the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) Player 
of the Year for the 3rd consecutive year, and led the Gamecocks to a 
record 4th straight SEC Tournament Championship. She also became the 
all-time leading scorer in USC women's basketball history and was a 
consensus first-team All-American for the 3rd consecutive season.
  A'ja was named 1st team All-SEC all four of her years at USC. She has 
swept every one of the National Player of the Year awards as the best 
player in women's college basketball in 2018. Last week, A'ja capped 
off her college athletic career by becoming the first player drafted by 
the Women National Basketball Association (WNBA).
  A'ja Wilson was born in Hopkins, South Carolina to Roscoe and Eva 
Wilson. She graduated from Heathwood Hall Episcopal High School in 
Columbia and led the school to the state championship as a senior in 
2014. Perhaps more important than her statistics; A'ja Wilson has been 
a leader for her teams--both on and off the court--and in her 
community.
  USC's President Dr. Harris Pastides, Athletics Director Ray Tanner 
and Women's Head Coach Dawn Staley have all praised A'ja the person as 
well as A'ja the player. President Pastides recently told The State 
newspaper, ``A'ja [is] the person who never turned down an autograph, a 
selfie, a high five . . . A'ja has never said no to anybody, and that 
is because she loves this community, she loves the fans.''
  Mr. Speaker, I agree with Dr. Pastides, and I hasten to add that the 
basketball fans and citizens of her hometown and state love her back.

                          ____________________